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 Camp
Del-Haven had its beginning in the summer of
1952. Rev. Don Carpenter had seen a need to
share the Gospel with children in the Kansas
City area and saw an opportunity to take
children out through the cooperative efforts of
law enforcement and social agencies. It was
through much testing and prayer of Rev. and Mrs.
Carpenter, and some help from a few close
friends, that they conducted their first camp
session at Gray Rock near Little Blue. There
were twenty-one boys gathered for the first camp
who were taken out of a development for
displaced families in the flood of 1951. There
were problems mounting among the juvenile
population in this area at that time. There were
four more camping sessions conducted that same
summer. The group of men who volunteered as
staff formed the organization known as
Del-Haven, Incorporated of Kansas City, MO, a
ministry that is recognized by State and Federal
authorities as a qualified non-profit
organization to help delinquent and
underprivileged children. Turning Kids from
Crime to Christ became Del-Haven's mission.
The ministry carried on into 1953 with the
organization renting various facilities that they could find available. Del-Haven's efforts
to share the Gospel with young boys was hailed
by ministers and law enforcement who saw this
ministry as an answer to social problems in the
area. Thus, Del-Haven began to think in terms of
some place to settle as a permanent location.
There was much prayer and thought given to the
matter. The Lord prompted a local business man
to give the organization $1,000 to find an
adequate location. Ultimately 40 acres of
available land were purchased.
There were no roads or facilities, only acreage
of dense timber and rocks. A small lake was
built on the property to begin the camp. Groups
would go to the site working with axes,
hatchets, etc., and managed to clear an area
which now contains the heart of the camp
facilities and operation. As a humble beginning,
a dining hall and three spacious cabins were
built. It was here where full time operations
began in the summer of 1956. Some of the
sessions were quite turbulent, but with God's
overruling providence and the ingenuity of some
devoted staff members, some real victories were
evident in young lives. Some of the changes were
far reaching in their impact.
In 1964, at the insistence of the Carpenter's
only daughter, girls were included in the
camping schedule. The first camp of girls was
made up of sisters and friends of the fellows
who had been campers.
There has never been a charge for any child to
come to camp. The camp is supported only by
friends and churches who share the desire to see
these children come to a saving knowledge of the
Lord Jesus Christ. The current Board of
Directors meets on a monthly basis and is
responsible for making all financial decisions
for the ministry. The members of the Board also
serve at Del-Haven in other various ways.
Several Board members personally see to the
areas of maintenance around the campgrounds,
other members help with the overall ministry
operations, and then there are some who give of
their time to work with the children in the
camping and retreat programs.
In the last few years the Lord has directed
Del-Haven to minister to the surrounding
community by co-hosting yearly Bible Conferences
that are held in supporting churches. It is
because of the Lord's direction that Del-Haven
has seen a need to minister to the community and
also to continue to minister to the children who
come to camp. In 2003-2004, the Del-Haven Memorial
Chapel was built so that the children who come
to camp are able to have a place, set
apart from recreation areas, where they can come
before God. Also, the new chapel is being used
as a place for Bible study and a place of
worship to the families who are building homes
in the areas around Del-Haven. Through the
prayers and gifts of individuals and
organizations that were led of His Holy Spirit
to help our ministry, the
$50,000 building loan for
Del-Haven Chapel was paid in full in the Spring
of 2005.
The Lord has greatly blessed Del-Haven over the
years and it is our prayer that He will continue
to bless this ministry as we seek to proclaim
the Gospel of the Glory of Christ to the young
people who so desperately need a savior.
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